Newmarket development concerns library officials

Some far proposed restaurant could interfere with parking

NEWMARKET — Library officials remain concerned about a plan by Chinburg Properties to build a restaurant and retail space at the intersection of Route 108 and Elm Street, directly across from the library.

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By Jeff McMenemy

seacoastonline.com

By Jeff McMenemy

Posted Jun. 21, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Jeff McMenemy
Posted Jun. 21, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

NEWMARKET — =brary officials remain concerned about a plan by Chinburg Properties to build a restaurant and retail space at the intersection of Route 108 and Elm Street, directly across from the library.

The proposed development would be located at the former Riverdale Automotive.

Sandra Allen, the chairman of the Library of Trustees, told members of the Planning Board last week that library officials don't want to lose any of the already limited parking spots at the library.

"That is of paramount importance to us," Allen said during a meeting in Town Hall.

Allen suggested the loss of any parking spots could cause a dangerous situation.

"We have a lot of young mothers with children," Allen said.

She said she didn't think it was right that a plan by Chinburg to put in a retail establishment would cause the library to lose parking spots.

"Because a private developer wants to come in," Allen said.

Trustee Joan DeYoreo said library officials would welcome a new 4-way stop sign.

"We want to leave it the way it is now," she said about the parking situation. "We don't want anything changed except the four-way stop."

Diane Hardy told Chinburg representatives at the meeting, "basically the library is asking for its two parking spots back."

Representatives at the meeting seemed receptive to working out a compromise.

Jeff Clifford, an engineer working for Chinburg Properties, first made a presentation to the Planning Board at its March 19 meeting.

He said at the time that the development, including a patio where customers could look across Route 108 to the Chinburg Mills, gives "a real European feel to the experience."

"It's going to make a very beautiful spot for people to congregate," he said.

But parking has been an issue since the development was proposed and developers have already met with the Library Board of Trustees once.